Improvement in barrel-heads



F. G. JOHNSON.

Barrel-Head.

No. 222,791. Patented Dec. 23, 1879.

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N. PETERS. Frl0TO LlTHOGRAFH UNrrnn STATES PATENT Onnron.

FRANK G. JOHNSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARREL-HEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222.791, dated December 23, 1879; application filed v June 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK G. J OHNSON, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Barrel -Heads, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

It is well known that the frailer or lighter sort of barrels-for example, such as those employed for packingflour and sugar-are soon destroyed by removing the hoops in order to take out or reinsert the heads. Besides, ordinary barrel-heads,being made of several pieces of different widths, require that all the pieces that constitute a particular head be kept together. Again, there are vast numbers of such barrels with but one head, which largely diminishes their value and usefulness. It is evident, too, that it requires somewhat skilled labor to remove heads from and reinsert and securely fasten them into barrels.

The object of my invention is to obviate these dificulties by providing barrel-h cads constructed in such a peculiar manner that they can be readily contracted and expanded in diameter, and thereby be easily removed from or securely fastened into the chine of any barrel of suitable size without removing any of the hoops of the barrel.

Heads made by my invention are intended for barrels employed for packing and transporting eggs, fruit, vegetables, and such other articles as do not only not require to be packed in closely-fitted cases, but which are often better preserved by being packed in partiallyopen cases, for the purpose of ventilation.

The construction and operation of my in- Fention are more particularly described as folows:

Referring to the drawings, A A A are three essentially similar sections of a circle having a small circular portion of the central ends, at d, Fig. 3, cut away. These three pieces of the head are cut of such size and shape as to leave between them three equal tapering spaces, a a at, extending from the chine of the barrel B B to the central part of the head and tapering from the chine to the center. By means of these tapering spaces a a a the three parts or sections of the head A A A can be drawn centrally toward each other far enough to contract the diameter of the head sufficiently to remove it from the groove b b, Fig, 3, and so from the barrel, without removing the hoops of the barrel. When the head is in this contracted condition, as shown in Fig. 1, it can, of course, be replaced without removing the hoops of the barrel, and be securely fastened therein by crowding the three parts A A A of the head from the center outward into the groove b b of the chine.

The means I employ for crowding the pieces A A A of the head outward into the groove of the chine, and securely binding them therein, are the three sliding keys 0 O G, placed one in each of the outer ends of the three tapering spaces a a a before the head is inserted into the barrel.

When the head is adjusted opposite to the groove 1) b of the chine the keys 0 O O are crowded along in the tapering spaces at a a, between the sections A A A of the head, toward the center of the head, which drives them (the sections) outward from the center,

thus expanding the diameter of the head, as shown in Fig. 2, and driving its edge into the groove 1) b of the chine, and securely holding it (the head) there untilthe keys 0 O U are again driven back to the outer ends of the tapering spaces a a a, when the sections A A A can again be drawn toward each other far enough to contract the diameter of the head sufficiently to allow it (the head) to be removed from the barrel without disturbing the hoops, as shown by Fig. 1.

To facilitate the use of the keys 0 O G, and secure them from getting'out of place, I make them with an upper and lower flange, c c, Fig. 4, extending laterally both ways over the body 0 c, Fig. 1, of the keys onto the upper and lower surfaces of the sections of the head A A A.

To further combine the sections A A A to gether before inserting the head into the barrel, and to increase the facility of manipulating it and to unite the action and strength of the" several sections, I employ a central combining-piece, D. This central piece consists of an upper and lower circular disk, which ex tends somewhat over and under the central ends of the sections A A A, as shown at d d,

Fig.2, the disks beingjoined by a central post, and the post itself being made hollow, to admit of putting the finger through it to further facilitate the manipulation, and also to increase the opening of the head for ventilation.

The sections A A A cannot be borne down or depressed at their central points or ends while their outer ed geis pressed into the groove of the chine, for the reason that their lateral corners ff, Fig. 2, act as fulcrum-points of a lever, the one arm of the lever being the outer portion of the section A beyond the line ff, and the other arm of the lever being the inner portion of the section A within the linef f.

It is evident that in order to tilt or depress the central points of the sections A A A the outer edge of these sections must be liberated from the groove b b, Fig. 3, of the chine, which it is impossible to do while the keys 0 U G are in place, forcing the sections outward.

To take the advantage of this mechanical action, and so to render the head stiit'amllirm, especially at its central point, I construct each of the sections A A A, or cut the wood out, in

such a way that the grain of the wood shall converge or extend from the outer edge of the section to its central point or end, which renders it stiff and strong in its lever action.

I do not limit myself to the employment of three sections, A A A, as four or more could be employed in a similar manner; but I consider three the best number.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. A barrel-head consisting of three or more essentially similar sections of a circle, A A A, with their adjacent edges set apart from and inclined toward each other, forming spaces a a a between the said sections, in combination with the fastening-keys O O C, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. A barrel-head consisting of three or more essentially similar sections of a circle, A AA, with their adjacent edges set apart from and inclined toward each other, forming spaces a a a between the said sections, in combination with the fastening-keys O O O and the coinbining-piece or central stay D, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

FRANK G. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

E. MALMAR, A. F. KIBBE. 

